The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-12-14
POSTAL TELEGRAPH.
The Measure to Establish a
National System.
CUJL0M THE FATHER OF IT.
ing of Elections in the South
General Notes.
Postal Telegraph Bill.

WASHINGTON, December 13.-The
postal telegraph bill, introduced by
Senator Cullom to-day. establishes the
United States Postal Telegraph as part
of the postal system of the United
States, and for the purpose of inaugu-
rating the system, provides that. the
following telegraph trunk lines shall
first be constructed: One from Wash
ington to Portland, Maine, via. Balti-
more, Wilmington, Philadelphia, Cam
den, Trenton, Newark, Jersey City
New York, Brooklyn, New Haven,
Hartford, Providence and Boston; one
from Washington to Minneapolis, via.
Pittsburg Cleveland, Toledo, Chicago,
Milwaukee. Madison, Lacrosse and st.
Paul; one from New York City to
Cleveland, Ohio, via. Albany, Syracuse,
Rochester, Buffalo, Erie, Pennsylvania;
one from Pittsburg to Topeka, Kansas.
via. Columbus, Cincinnati, Indiauapo-
Is, st. Louis and Kansas City; one
from Toledo to Detroit; one from
Washington to Galveston, via. Rich
mond, Charlotte, Columbia, Augusta,
Atlanta, Montgomery and New Orleans;
one from Chicago to New Orleans, via
Indianapolis, Louisville, Nashville,
Memphis and Vicksburg; one from
Chicago to st. Louis, via Peoria
and Springfield; one from Chicago to
San Francisco. via Des Moines, Omaha,
Cheyenne, Salt Lake City, Carson and
other towns en- route; and one from
Cheyenne to Denver.
Postal telegraph Offices are to be
opened at places named, and at all in
termediate points at which first, sec
ond or third class Offices are estab-
lished. Branch lines ia it shall be COZ
structed from time to time as appropria-
ton therefor is made by Congress, the
intention being to connect lines with all
cities where the postal free delivery
system prevails, but no additional
facilities will be provided in States
already connected with trunk lines,
until postal telegraph offices have been
established in every State and Terri
tory. tbs system is 30 be constructed
on straight lines as near as practicable,
but regard is to be taken of cities that
will afford the best Geographic facilities
to the public. Lines are to be con-
strueted by the engineer corps of the
army, and then transferred to the GUS
tody of the Postmaster-G General.
The poles are to be of iron, wires of
copper, and all other material of the
best character. Eight wires are 10 be
strung IN line from New York to Chi
cago, and four upon other lines. The
Secretary of War is authorized to use
the military service lines of the United
States, as far as eIpedient, and also to
make all necessary condemnations of
land or buildings at fair compensa-
ton. All disputes as to what is fair
to be settled by the Court
of Claims. The Secretary is further
to construct, take and use
all machinery and devices, not includ-
ing telegraph lines, whether patented or
not, as snail be deemed necessary com
pensation, to be determined in the same
manner as the condemnation of land.
Sums of money necessary for this pur-
pose are appropriated by this bill.
A rate of 10 cents for each twenty
words and cents for each additional
ten words is fixed for distances of under
500 miles, and an additional rate of 5
cents for each $50 words over 500 miles.
A night rate of IS cents and q dsy rate
of rs cents is fixed for each 100 words
transmitted for newspapers, except that
where the same dispatches are dropped
off at more than one Office, the rates shall |
be 25 and Is cents, respectively, for each
dropped copy.
The Office of Director General of the
telegraph is created as part of the
postoffice department. 1t is made |
the duty of the Postmaster
General to report to Congress
after the passage of the act,
q plan for the complete organization of
,ne postal telegraph system, with de
allied estimates of men and money
needed, before the system is put in
operation and employees selected. Ex-
limitations are to be held by tue civil
el vice commission to determine their
Efficiency.
Four millions of dollars is appropri-
ted for the location and construction
It telegraph lines provided by the act.